Dover, DE — Dover Downs played host to a quartet of $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for 3-year-olds on Thursday night (Dec. 17).

Sophomore trotting colts and geldings led off, with Air Time equalling his lifetime record of 1:56.4 and defeating Touch Of White and Chauffeur by 4-1/4 lengths. Art Stafford Jr. drove the son of Dusty Winner and I Concur for owner-breeder Jane Dunavant and trainer Carlo Poliseno. Air Time, who also won in the Virginia stakes program, increased his seasonal earnings to $144,987.

Emmy’s Mayflower turned in a stakes record performance in her DSBF final on Thursday at Dover Downs. Fotowon photo.

In the filly trot, 1-9 favorite Emmy’s Mayflower delivered a dominant nine-length win over Dabigspooky Bootah and Katies Blu Diamond in a new stakes record of 1:55.4. Russell Foster drove the daughter of Anders Bluestone and Stirling Charisma for owner, trainer and breeder Eric Foster.

Sweet Lil captured the filly pace in 1:54.3 for owner George Minner and breeder Josephine Vincent. The Art Director-Blissful Lil filly, who did not race at 2, defeated favorite Spinferno and Foolish Wisdom. Tony Morgan handled the driving duties for trainer Jason Skinner.

In the male pacing division, favorite Apple Valley Art did not disappoint, winning by two lengths over American Nitro and Leonard’s Legacy in 1:54 in line to Tim Tetrick. A six-time winner this season, the son of Artzina and Shakeaway increased his earnings to $145,640 for trainer Jim King Jr. and owner-breeder Jo Ann Looney-King.

Apple Bottom Jeans with caretaker LuAnn Marsh led the post parade for the 8th race at Dover Downs in a ceremony honoring her retirement. Fotowon Photo.

On a different note, one of the stellar performers in the Breeders’ Fund program, Apple Bottom Jeans (Mr Apples-Scylla Hanover), was retired to the broodmare ranks in a ceremony after leading the post parade for the 8th race. She ends her career with more than a million dollars in lifetime earnings and a record of 1:50.1m at age five. She is the fifth leading money earner of all DSBF pacers. Bred by Kevin Switzer’s KDK Standardbreds and sold to owners Howard Taylor, Robert Cooper, Ed Gold, and the late Tom Lazzaro, she was trained by Dylan Davis and cared for by LuAnn Marsh. She has a date in the court of Papi Rob Hanover.

In the overnight feature, a $24,000 Preferred Pace, Let It Ride N used a first-over blitz to power past Highalator for a 1:49 win. After settling in fifth, Dexter Dunn revved up the son of Rock N Roll Heaven at the half to meet pacesetter Highalator nearing three-quarters in 1:21.4. At the top of the lane, Let It Ride N shifted into another gear and won under wraps for trainer Nifty Norman’s Enzed Racing Stable.